I Have a God Simulator

Yao City’s progress exceeded expectations.

Luh Yao had originally thought the city would excel in Theology and Astrology, with the next step being advanced developments like Mysticism and Alchemy. Eventually, it would become the Holy Land Center of this Pixel World, a place akin to Jerusalem.

He now realized he had jumped to conclusions.

One had to consider the context of the era and the overall environment.

From the perspective of a technological era, Theology was indeed outdated and obsolete.

But back when cities were just being founded, Theology was synonymous with progress.

Luh Yao had played plenty of historical strategy games, and they often depicted the same thing. Early Clergy—be they Shamans, Monks, Priests, or Daoists—were usually also doctors, astronomers, mathematicians, and philosophers.

Now, Yao City was demonstrating the power of Theology.

Driven by their Divine Faith, a large group of Scholars had gathered here. They sought to understand the world by reading books and studying Divine Miracles.

Not far from the Divine Hall, the little people had placed a stone sculpture.

This sculpture was labeled: [Water Country].

Luh Yao double-clicked the statue, pulling up a clear, enlarged view.

The Water Country was Yao City’s version of a globe. Its construction was rather crude: two continents and a series of small islands floated in a sea, which itself was depicted as a long, thin slab, looking like a few nuts scattered on a bar of chocolate.

A sentence was also carved on the model.

"Water is the source of all things, and to water all things return."

Yao City had produced the first school—the Divinity School—as well as Scholars and a model of the world.

Luh Yao couldn’t help but wonder. ’What’s the situation in Yan City, Yao City’s rival?’

He shifted his perspective, moving to the skies above Yan City, which lay beyond the western mountain range.

The moment his view changed, a series of notifications popped up on the simulator.

[Yaoshao has invented the oil lamp.]

[Yan City has invented Lighthouse Studies.]

[Yan City has built the first lighthouse.]

[Potential Wonder discovered: Lighthouse.]

...

—O great God, a Believer has performed a feat far surpassing her peers. Do you wish to transform her into a Hero?

Luh Yao first clicked on the Divine Hall.

Inside, a young woman was kneeling on the floor, her hands clasped in prayer before the Divine Statue.

The name above her head read [Yaoshao], age 21.

This was the first time Luh Yao had promoted one of the little people into a female Hero. Hemira, the previous one, had been a Prophet.

In her character portrait, Yaoshao was a young woman with a scorpion-tail braid. She sat at a table with her chin resting on her folded hands, gazing happily at an oil lamp.

Below it was a quote representing her.

—Man is the animal that has learned to befriend fire.

...

[Hero Lv1] Yaoshao

Attack 0 | Defense 0 | Knowledge 2 | Mana 0 | Luck 1 | Morale 0

[Abilities]

Wisdom Lv1: Wisdom is the key for an Apostle to hear the Divine Will. A higher level of Wisdom makes it easier to level up and master various abilities.

Medical Lv1: Skilled in healing. Has a chance to invent new medicines or treatments.

Invention Lv1: Increases the probability of inventing new items.

...

Luh Yao beamed.

’Three starting skills!’

’The girl with the scorpion-tail braid is a doctor by trade, yet she’s also an Inventor.’

’An absolute genius.’

The crucial part was that she was a Hero who had emerged naturally from the Salt Pool. This indirectly proved that the Salt Pool model was viable and beneficial to the population of little people.

Luh Yao made a mental note of Yaoshao’s name.

’She’s a talent to watch closely in the future.’

As his excitement subsided, Luh Yao started thinking about building wonders in the two cities.

He currently had two potential wonders available. One was Yao City’s own [Beer Beast Fighting Arena], and the other was [Aegir’s Fire] in the Northern Forest.

Ever since confirming that wonders wouldn’t force a player’s Ascension to the Divine Hall of the Gods, Luh Yao’s attitude toward them had changed.

’It’s great to have them, but I won’t force the issue if I can’t build them.’

Now that both cities had produced wonder prototypes, it showed they were both developing well and had already taken a major step forward.

The only problem was his lack of Faith.

Luh Yao looked at the top right corner.

Population: 22,723 Faith: 5,951

The population had been growing steadily, but his Faith had been heavily depleted from unsealing the Snowman and the great battle against the Haili God.

This was still a time of war, so these Faith Reserves couldn’t be touched for now.

The wonders would have to wait.

Luh Yao scratched his head.

’I thought I was rich, but one battle and I’m stretched thin again. It feels like you can never have enough Faith. I need to save up more.’

Fortunately, he now possessed 14 Faith Bonus Artifacts, which provided a fixed income of 672 Faith per day.

He just needed to wait another week, and he’d recover.

...

Luh Yao looked down on Yan City.

By the city’s port in the northwest, a lighthouse had been erected.

It couldn’t be called grand or exquisite—it was just a short watchtower built of stacked stones. At night, a bonfire would be lit at the top.

The Yan City lighthouse served more as a landmark beacon, guiding ships returning from the sea.

Next to the library in the city center, Mayor Yulian was giving a speech. Shang Li stood silently behind him, acting as his advisor.

Commander Salt Geller and the Corrupters maintained order among the crowd.

Yulian said, "Citizens, we face a grave challenge. This challenge comes from Yao City to the east."

"As you all know, we in Yan City have always focused on developing commerce, Trade, and new inventions. But for this, we have been consistently condemned by Yao City."

"Prophet Hemira has demanded many times that I change Yan City. That we must abandon our commercial pursuits, replace our library with a Divinity School, replace beast fighting with prayer, and expel the so-called ’degenerate ones’."

"She believes that Yao City alone represents the Divine Will, and that Yan City must follow their lead."

"But our God has never given us such guidance, nor has He endorsed their view."

"Citizens, are you willing to be led by Yao City?"

The citizens of Yan City erupted in protest.

"Are you kidding me? If everyone acted like they do in Yao City, who would raise the cattle, sheep, and pigs? Where do you think they get their lumber and salt? It all comes from us here in Yan City!"

"It’s jealousy. They’re just jealous that Yan City is becoming more prosperous."

"That’s right! Yao City is jealous. Ever since Master Wizard Senjian passed away, people have been constantly moving here from their city. That’s because Yan City offers a better life and cheaper goods."

"Yan City is the best!"

...

"Please, quiet down! Quiet down!"

Yulian continued, "The Prophet believes Yao City’s way is the only right way. But I disagree! Our population in Yan City is constantly growing, with a steady stream of people moving from Yao City to join us!"

"Their choice is the most honest proof there is! It proves that Yan City offers better living conditions, greater tolerance, and a more practical way of life!"

"Without the blessing of Yao God, Yan City would never have made it to where we are today."

"Since we face this challenge, let us prove that Yan City is the one truly chosen and favored by our God—and the choice of all people!"

"We will be like the lighthouse on our shore, illuminating the path for all!"

"We are the lighthouse!"

When Yulian finished his speech, the citizens roared in response, raising their arms and shouting.

"We are the lighthouse!"

"We are the lighthouse!"

...

Luh Yao opened a bag of plain potato chips and snacked as he watched the scene unfold.

’Not bad.’

’The competition between the cities has begun.’

Luh Yao really looked forward to this battle of the Twin Cities.

He wondered just how the two cities would prove which of them was the true leader of the pixel people.